Pistachio Growers Watch for Mealybugs

Taylor Hillman General, Tree, nut & vine crops

Gills Mealybug
It’s that time of year when pistachio growers need to be on the lookout for an orchard pest. Sabrina Hill reports.
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David Haviland, Entomology Farm Advisor, with the UC Cooperative Extension, Kern County says this is the time to watch for Gill’s mealybugs.
Gill’s mealybugs can cause significant damage to the nuts by feeding on the trees and robbing them of nutrients. This leads to a lower quality of pistachio, and economic loss for the grower.